Are you Working Too Hard for Jesus?
Who were the hardest working Christians in the Bible? The answer must surely be Paul and his friends, yet many people would say it was the church at Ephesus. They say this [...]
Articles by Paul Ellis
Are your Deeds Incomplete?
Are you worn out? If Christians are worn out, it’s usually for one of two reasons: (1) they don’t know how much their Father loves them and (2) they have an [...]
Happy Birthday to us, and a free book for you!
Update: This book giveaway has now closed. Make sure you don’t miss out on future giveaways by signing up today. It’s free! Today is Escape to Reality’s 9th [...]
What does it mean to keep his deeds?
If you were to make a list of big topics discussed by Jesus and the New Testament writers, the subject of deeds or works would have to be on that list. They all spoke about [...]
What Deeds does Jesus Know?
In his letters to the seven churches, Jesus repeatedly says, “I know your deeds.” He exhorts the Ephesians to do the deeds they did at first (Rev. 2:5), he rebukes the [...]
Will Jesus return this year?
And so another year kicks off with a certain Christian magazines/websites making gloomy predictions about these last days. (I was going to provide some links here but it was [...]
Is Jesus Returning Soon?
Me: “I am coming to your house soon.” You: “Great! When?” Me: “I have no idea. I don’t even know what day.” You: “Um, okay.” Me: “You’ll have to wait a [...]
Merry Christmas from the White House
I will not be sad to see the end of 2018. I don’t know about you, but this has been a year of low-level stress for us. Nothing major. Just a lot of rotten wood and asbestos [...]
You’ve got mail: Letters from Jesus, out today!
Last Friday I picked up a book containing the most important letters ever written. The letters had been penned by all sorts of historical figures. Yet the book contained no [...]
Who is an Overcomer?
To him who overcomes… (Rev. 2:7b) What does it mean to overcome? And what happens if I don’t? Is Jesus saying I can lose my salvation if I fail the overcoming test? Some [...]
Are these the Very Last Days?
UPDATE: This offer has now closed. My thanks to all who signed up. Missed out? There are still plenty of good reasons for signing up on Patreon. Are these the very last days? [...]
Get Your Name in Paul’s New Book!
UPDATE: This offer has now closed. My thanks to all who signed up. Missed out? There are still plenty of good reasons for signing up on Patreon. My new book, Letters from [...]
The “I wills” of the New Covenant
Jesus sent letters to seven churches (see Revelation 2 and 3). Of this group, the Philadelphians are esteemed as a model church because Jesus never rebuked them—as though [...]
The Lost Letters
My new book, Letters from Jesus, comes out in a few weeks. Here’s a taste… — In the creviced hills east of the Sea of Galilee, a kibbutznik stumbled on the [...]
Update: Paul’s New Book
For the past year and a half I have been writing a book on the gospel of Jesus. I’m happy to announce – it is finished! Great! What’s the new book called? Letters [...]
The Gospel of Jesus in the Story of Job
Imagine you wanted to turn the story of Job into a play, but not a historical play. You have no interest in telling the old story of a man who was robbed and suffered. [...]
Is Job a Type of Jesus?
The Bible contains pictures of Jesus on every page. Indeed, one of the reasons why I enjoy reading the scriptures, is they reveal much about the character of Christ. But what [...]
What is the Sign of the Son of Man in heaven?
What do you make of these words of Jesus? Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man [...]
The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:6–9)
A man had a fig tree, which had been planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, “Behold, for [...]
The Blood of Righteous Abel (Matthew 23:35)
Does God punish nations for the sins of their forefathers? Did God punish Israel for killing his prophets? It seems like it when you read these words of Jesus: Therefore, [...]
Forty Fulfilled Prophecies
Here’s a quiz question: When Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, was he received as (a) the long awaited Messiah, or (b) a prophet? It might surprise you, but the [...]
Did God ruin Job? (Job 2:3)
Pop quiz: Which Biblical character has attracted the most comments on this blog? Yes, it’s Job, which tells me that the story of Job-who-lost-everything is one of the most [...]
Why God Will Not Cast You into the Fire
Whoever comes to me I will never cast away. (John 6:37) Jesus promised he would never cast away those who come to him, yet some people fear he might. Why? Because Jesus is [...]
Why Flee to the Mountains?
When trouble comes, you have two choices: fight or flight. Fleeing is the underrated choice. In these days of belligerence and bullying, the temptation is to fight or die. [...]
Is God the Author of Evil?
Whenever I tell people that God-is-all-the-time-good, I am invariably rebuked by those who say he isn’t. And they’ve got the scriptures to prove it. Job 1:21 says God [...]
Every Knee Shall Bow: Was Paul a Universalist?
Here’s a verse to fire the imagination: It is written: “As surely as I live,” says the Lord, “Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.” [...]
Does Jesus Want You to Sell your Stuff? (Luke 12:33)
The Bible is full of treasures that we are afraid to open. We fear scriptures that are meant to bless us, and we run from words that should fill us with joy. Here’s an [...]
The One about the Millstone and the Sea
A pastor makes an announcement: “Great news, church. Our kids’ program is growing and we need teachers. If you have a heart for teaching children, let me know. But take [...]
Are Unfruitful Branches Lifted Up?
Here is possibly the worst verse in the Bible: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. (John 15:1-2, NIV) I say [...]
The Sign of Jonah
The scribes and Pharisees could have won the gold medal for insensitivity. One minute they’re accusing Jesus of being in cahoots with the devil; the next they’re asking [...]
Did Peter Preach Conditional Forgiveness to Simon the Sorcerer? (Acts 8:22)
If God loves you, God forgives you, and God loves you indeed! God’s forgiveness is revealed in the matchless and unrepeatable sacrifice of the One who died for all sin. In [...]
The Eagles are Coming
For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. (Matthew 24:28, NKJV) This is one of the strangest prophecies in scripture. It is also one of the [...]
Did God Hand Job Over to Satan? (Job 2:6)
God good; Satan bad. That’s deep revelation, yet many don’t know it. They think a good God does bad things and that he sometimes employs the devil to do his dirty work. [...]
What are Heavenly Treasures?
We know there are heavenly treasures, because Jesus says so, but what are they? Some say God is going to dispense treasure, mansions, and even cities to those who have proven [...]
The Myth of Exclusionism
I know what you’re thinking. “Clear my diary because I’ve been waiting for someone to write about exclusionism. Finally!” No, you’re probably not thinking that at [...]
Jesus for Jerusalem
On the night he rose from the dead, Jesus instructed his disciples to preach a new message of unconditional forgiveness. Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the [...]
Free Book for Subscribers
UPDATE: This offer has now closed – all 1000 books have been snapped up. Make sure you don’t miss out on future giveaways by signing up to E2R. It’s free! [...]
Can You Lose Your Salvation?
Can you lose your salvation and become unsaved? When I first began writing about the gospel of grace few people asked this question. It was too contentious, too uncertain, [...]
What About Those Who Cry “Lord, Lord?”
On four occasions, Jesus spoke about people who would cry “Lord, Lord” yet not be received into his kingdom. Who are these people and what have they done, or not done, to [...]
What Does it Mean to be One with the Lord?
Many Christians don’t know how good they’ve got it. In our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. [...]
What are the Shortened Days? (Matthew 24:22)
If they made an historically-accurate movie about the fall of Jerusalem in AD70, two things would stand out. First, the magnitude of the city’s destruction would break your [...]
Happy Christmas and a Free Book for You!
For the next 24 hours, my book Stuff Jesus Never Said is available free on Kindle. Grab your copy before they run out of 1’s and 0’s. Stuff Jesus Never Said is my most [...]
The Old is Good Enough
Here’s a verse that may leave you confused: No one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, “The old is good enough.” (Luke 5:39) If the new wine is the [...]
4 Myths about the Antichrist
No end times’ sermon is complete without a reference to that eschatological bogeyman, the antichrist. For those who came in late, the antichrist is evil incarnate. He’s [...]
The Endurance of the Saints
Image source There are nearly two dozen New Testament scriptures that speak of enduring or holding fast to the end. The wrong way to read these scriptures is to think, “I [...]
How to get your book published
“Paul, can you tell me how to get my book published?” I sure can. I have been in the publishing game for 25+ years. I have published more than a dozen titles including a [...]
Are Women Permitted to Teach? (1 Timothy 2:12)
Are women permitted to teach in church? You might think not if you read this verse: I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. (1 [...]
Should Women Be Silent in Church?
My three daughters are growing up in a country where women often reach the highest levels of leadership. In New Zealand we’ve had female heads of state and government and [...]
Women Preachers? Where’s that in the Bible?!
I have three daughters. When they get a little older and start drawing the attention of young men, I will give them this piece of timeless advice: Don’t just listen to what [...]
A Future Tribulation?
When I was a boy in Sunday School, I came across an end-times comic that featured believers being executed in something called a great tribulation. It was like a holocaust [...]
When is the Great Tribulation?
In his time on earth only two things made the Son of God cry: the death of his friend Lazarus and the imminent destruction of Jerusalem. For Lazarus he shed tears, but for [...]
When is the Rapture?
Before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, I stumbled on a prominent website that predicted the rapture would occur soon. Why? Because the polls said Hillary Clinton was [...]
What about the Rapture?
Mr. Preterist: “Did you know the word rapture is not in the Bible?” Mr. Futurist: “The word Bible is not in the Bible. What’s your point?” Mr. Preterist: “My [...]
Jesus is Your Tithe
Jesus poked the hornets’ nest when he said, “Watch out for those law-lovers who strut about in long robes, pray long prayers, and take the best seats at banquets.” It [...]
How Does Faith Establish the Law? (Romans 3:31)
The Bible makes some interesting comparisons between faith and law: We are justified by FAITH, not by LAW (Rom 3:28, Gal 2:16)Abraham and his heirs are blessed on account of [...]
Are You Lukewarm? Take the Test
Lukewarm is what you get when you mix hot with cold. It’s mixing the white-hot love of God with the stone-cold commands of the Bible. It’s mixing the new and everlasting [...]
The Day and the Hour
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. (Matthew 24:36) The disciples thought that the temple would come down [...]
When is the End of the Age?
The disciples asked, “What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). What did they mean by the end of the age? Jesus said, “The gospel [...]
When are the Last Days?
Here’s a question that has been the subject of much debate: When are the last days? Mr. Futurist: “We’re living in them! Study the signs and you will see that we are [...]
A Grace-Based View of the End Times
My new end times’ book has just launched and some of you don’t care. You don’t care because you’ve been burned by bad eschatological preaching. Or you’ve had [...]
“AD70 and the End of the World” – paperback out today!
Amazon have ruined my plans. I was going to release my new end times’ book on September 24 because some of you think the world is going to end on September 23. The timing [...]
The “I Wills” of God
At the foot of Mt Sinai the Israelites boasted We will do everything the Lord commands. (Exodus 19:8) Perhaps you have said something similar, but this is a fatal boast, and [...]
What is the Prayer of Faith?
Much of what passes for prayer is wishful thinking. “Oh Lord, please heal Mary.” I’m sure you can, Lord. I just don’t know if you will. “I beg you to heal [...]
FREE for E2R subscribers: A hardback copy of Stuff Jesus Never Said
UPDATE: This giveaway has ended. Make sure you don’t miss out next time by subscribing to E2R today. In a warehouse near Long Beach, there are 200 hardback copies of [...]
Can You Fall from Your Secure Position (2 Peter 3:17)?
According to some, here is a scripture that says you can lose your salvation: Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be [...]
Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin?
Here is a conversation I have on a regular basis: Reader: “Paul, I’m worried that I have committed the unforgivable sin.” Me: “You haven’t.” Reader: “But I had [...]
Grace Bombs and Patreon: An Update
When I started writing about the gospel of grace, I had no idea that this message would go all over the world. I figured I’d get maybe 20-30 subscribers, and that’d be [...]
The Top 12 Promises on Eternal Security
I have begun listing the many promises in God’s Word regarding the eternal security of the believer. So far I’m up to 130 scriptures, with more to come. It’s a [...]
Bullying in the Church
As a parent of four, I regularly encounter bullying. No, my kids aren’t getting abused at school. But we often receive messages from educators teaching us how to recognize [...]
AD70 World Premier
UPDATE: We have a randomly-selected winner. Congrats to phanson83. Peter, I sent you an email. Check your spam folder if you haven’t seen it. See this? This is the [...]
The Market for Bad Predictions
During my lifetime there have been about 100 false predictions regarding the Lord’s return, and every one of them was made by someone who sincerely believed they were [...]
Does 2 Peter 2 Say You Can Lose Your Salvation?
In this world of anxiety and fear, it is a radical thing to proclaim the eternal security of the believer. One with the Lord, your future is the same as his. No one can [...]
Design a New Logo for E2R and Win!
UPDATE: We have a winner! You can see all the entries on the CrowdSpring page. Thanks to everyone who participated. Short version: I’m running a logo design competition [...]
Does God Love Me When I Sin?
I heard a pastor of a large church tell his congregation, “God hates you, God is sick of you, God is frustrated with you, God is weary of you.” And why is God in such a [...]
Satan Desires to Sift You
Here’s a verse that frightens many people: Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. (Luke 22:31) Here are three conclusions people draw from these [...]
Why Did Jesus Ask for Swords?
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one… The disciples said, “See, Lord, [...]
“AD70 and the End of the World” – out today!
My new book on the end times comes out today and many of you don’t care. You don’t care because you have been burned by bad end times preaching. Or you’ve had [...]
God Helps the Helpless
Self-help religion says, “If you want God’s help, you have to work for it. You have to pull up your socks to impress the Lord.” But look at the people Jesus helped and [...]
Whose Wrath has Come? (1 Thessalonians 2:16)
(The Jews) killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone… they always heap up their sins to the limit. The [...]
Does the Hypergrace Gospel Encourage Sin?
Preach the scandalous grace of God and some will misinterpret your message as an endorsement of sin. It’s practically inevitable. But those who dismiss grace as a license [...]
Human versus Divine Vengeance
When Abel was murdered, his blood cried out to God for vengeance. Yet God did not kill Cain the murderer but protected him against those who would seek his life. Clearly, [...]
Days of Vengeance
When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near… because these are days of vengeance. (Luke 21:20-23) When prophesying about the [...]
Two Buttons
Before you are done reading this post, I hope you will press one button and possibly two. So get your button-pressing finger ready, because here comes the first button. The [...]
What did the High Priest See?
On the night he was betrayed, there was a dramatic confrontation between Jesus and the Sanhedrin. Picture the scene: Caiaphas, the high priest is fishing for evidence they [...]
When did the Old Covenant End?
The Bible is made up of two documents: the Old Testament and the New Testament. These documents roughly equate to two covenants: the old covenant and the new covenant. I say [...]
What Makes a Church a Family?
The gospel of grace has exploded over the past few years. Ten years ago you probably hadn’t heard of Joseph Prince, Andrew Wommack, or Escape to Reality. But today many [...]
Does the Lord Bring Trouble? (Job 42:11)
A few readers have asked for my thoughts on this “troublesome” passage: All (Job’s) brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in [...]
Get Your Name in Paul’s Book
My new book, Stuff Jesus Never Said, has won a gold medal at the 2017 Illumination Book Awards. Needless to say, I’m thrilled. Here’s another announcement: The ebook [...]
How Religion Makes Us Stupid (And Jesus Makes Us Wise)
Religion is an endless car race and I have a trackside seat. I smell the fumes of religious ambition, and I hear the sickening crunch of condemnation. The religious race goes [...]
The Three Uses of the Law
500 years ago, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg. The Reformation that Luther and others started led [...]
The Feeble Gospel
The number one reason we have a feeble church is we preach a feeble gospel. We will never have a strong church unless we preach a mighty gospel. Do you know the difference? [...]
How your Bible may be ruining the Gospel
My wife is a good cook. She does a Danish roast with crackling pork and all the trimmings that is second-to-none. In fact, she is preparing a sumptuous roast dinner as I [...]
2016 Christmas Message from Paul
Someone once said life is what happens when you’re making other plans. This is wisdom for me because I am a planner. I begin every day, every week, and every year with a [...]
They will not taste death
Jesus said some of his disciples would live forever and wander the earth as ageless immortals. No, wait. Did he really? It sounds like the plot of an Indiana Jones movie but [...]
Jesus stands with the accused
In Biblical times there was a law that said a man could send his wife away with a certificate of divorce if she no longer found favor in his eyes (Deu 24:1-4). “She grew [...]
When is the Second Coming?
Every so often some omen or portent sets Facebook alight with the prospect of Christ’s imminent return. “Blood moons! Aligning planets! Israel sneezed! Jesus is coming [...]
An apology to the people of New Zealand
As a New Zealander, I was deeply saddened to hear about the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit north Canterbury in the early hours of Monday morning. As a Cantabrian, I [...]
The 5 Comings of Jesus
Imagine you lived 2,000 years ago and were waiting for the coming of Jesus. You expected him to come soon but you weren’t sure where he would appear. So you studied the [...]
Coming to the Temple
Here’s an obscure prophecy about Jesus that probably affects you more than you know: “Behold, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me. And [...]
Relief in your troubles
The first check I ever got from coaching basketball, I didn’t cash it. I kept it as a souvenir. But the second, third, and every other check went straight into my bank [...]
Escape to Reality 